unearths some literary gems.
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[The parrot in a covered cage] kept making noises like the popping of corks and the pouring out of drinks. Now and then he shouted, "Jolly good health to you and me."
***
The shop was in darkness and smelled of arts and crafts.
[I do understand that a concentration of art supplies might literally have an atmospheric aroma, but I just think "arts and crafts" is a funny-sounding thing to smell like. Well, "arts and crafts" is a funny phrase, period, imo.]
***
Bonus: The "no tick" sign hanging at a bar, advising the patrons that they cannot buy on credit, is illustrated with a picture of a broken watch. (This was actually the best thing in a novel that proved worthy of the "dumb" in its title--and it may actually be the author's original conception, as a quick search for actual vintage pub signs saying "no tick" with broken-watch graphics did not suggest that they exist.)
